Mount Nirka: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
Mount Nirka and its sister [[Mount Nyid]] were extinct volcanos that used to lie within the land of [[Arak]], Mount Nyid at its centre and Mount Nirka on its northern frontier with [[Darkon]]. They and their land were subsumed by Darkon as part of the [[Great Upheaval]] in 740 BC. The mountains rumbled back to life in 750 BC at the moment of the [[Requiem]] - the destruction of Il-Aluk, the decapitation of Darkon, and the 'birth' of [[Necropolis]] - whether in celebration or sympathy. The peaks used to stand side by side, but they appear to have grown apart on the most recent map, with Mount Nyid anchoring the southeastern [[Mountains of Misery]] and [[Mount Nirka]] anchoring the northwestern [[Mountains of Misery]]. Mount Nirka soars to a breathtaking height of 7960 ft, easily surpassing [[Mount Baratak]]. It is the source of the [[Amnis Lacrimarum]] ("River of Tears"), which traverses [[Keening]] before joining the [[Corvus River]] well to the west | Mount Nirka and its sister [[Mount Nyid]] were extinct volcanos that used to lie within the land of [[Arak]], Mount Nyid at its centre and Mount Nirka on its northern frontier with [[Darkon]]. They and their land were subsumed by Darkon as part of the [[Great Upheaval]] in 740 BC. The mountains rumbled back to life in 750 BC at the moment of the [[Requiem]] - the destruction of Il-Aluk, the decapitation of Darkon, and the 'birth' of [[Necropolis]] - whether in celebration or in sympathy. The peaks used to stand side by side, but they appear to have grown apart on the most recent map, with Mount Nyid anchoring the southeastern [[Mountains of Misery]] and [[Mount Nirka]] anchoring the northwestern [[Mountains of Misery]]. Mount Nirka soars to a breathtaking height of 7960 ft, easily surpassing [[Mount Baratak]]. It is the source of the [[Amnis Lacrimarum]] ("River of Tears"), which traverses [[Keening]] before joining the [[Corvus River]] well to the west. It is also the source of infamous [[Lake Temporus]], from which springs the innocuous [[Tempe River]]. The northeastern foothills of Mount Nirka are described (wrongly it would appear) as the source of the [[Khourx River]] (unless they are also the source of the [[Foaming River]]). | ||
All life on Mount Nirka, save for its northern flank, and indeed all life across the face of Arak was eradicated in 588 BC by a sandstorm without precedent that scoured the land clean in an event recorded as the [[Scourge of Arak]]. As of 735 BC, the only trees to be found on Mount Nirka were on its northern flank. At suitable elevations hardy grasses, spike plants, and low scrubs | All life on Mount Nirka, save for its northern flank, and indeed all life across the face of Arak was eradicated in 588 BC by a sandstorm without precedent that scoured the land clean in an event recorded as the [[Scourge of Arak]]. As of 735 BC, the only trees to be found on Mount Nirka were on its northern flank. At suitable elevations hardy grasses, spike plants, and low scrubs had made some inroad. The landscape remained a century and a half after the storm one of windswept desolation. As for fauna, it consisted of spiders and prodigious insects. | ||
The best proof that the surface of Mount Nirka and its environs were inhabited by intelligent races are the mine tunnels and shafts that may still be found there. Dwarves in Tempe Falls and gnomes in Mayvin can also be found whose fathers left to work those mines over a century and a half ago. | The best proof that the surface of Mount Nirka and its environs were inhabited by intelligent races are the mine tunnels and shafts that may still be found there. Dwarves in Tempe Falls and gnomes in Mayvin can also be found whose fathers left to work those mines over a century and a half ago. The individuals who returned to Darkon brought stories of strange temporal fugues in the depths. A miner might spend a week underground only to return to the surface and discover that a month had passed. From the dwarves and gnomes come also tales of the native inhabitants of Arak. The Arakians were humans who herded sheep and goats but were also themselves miners. They warned the dwarves and gnomes not to dig too deep. Equally, they tried to impress upon their guests from the north their abject fear of the hours of the night when the ''sneeuane feallagh'' ("gossamer folk") would swarm up from the kingdom of ''[[Niurin Scaa]]'' ("Shadow Nether") to devour the souls of mortal men. The dwarves began to believe in the existence of these beings whom they understood to be a race of Dark Elves. When the surface was scoured clean ''[[Niurin Scaa]]'' was untoched. But the surface dwellers with whom the ''sneeuane feallagh'' had entertained themselves were no more. Kin came to investigate however, as did looters and treasure seekers. Only those who tarried in the land for but a few hours were assured of ever leaving it. As the visitors became ever less common, the proportion who lived to tell the tale plummeted. Until it became universally accepted truth that anyone who dared spend the night within the frontiers of Arak would be carried off before dawn by the Dark Elves. | ||
x | |||
It was a rare individual indeed who understood that the appearance of the [[Shadow Rift]] in 740 BC, marked the demise of this truh. | |||
Of course when the [[Shadow Rift] appear in 740 BC, it was a rare individual indeed who understood that | |||
Stil | |||
few indeed understood that this truth had just | |||
Naturally, no one was told that | |||
told the upholder of this truth that the Great Upheaval darked the destruction of Arak and the destruction | |||
those who upheld this truth were not informed that as of the Great Upheaval That this was no longer true as of 740 BC was not readily appreciated. | |||
Many people in surrounding lands remain convinced of this truth to this day. | |||
B, despite the evidence to the contrary, for brigands and adventurers have discovered that one is no longer assured of being | |||
After the Great Upheaval the knowledge | |||
Consequently, Mount Nirka and its environs became shunned. This situation And after 740 it slowly dawned those and remained so until well after the end of Arak. | |||
Revision as of 02:45, 17 January 2010
Mount Nirka and its sister Mount Nyid were extinct volcanos that used to lie within the land of Arak, Mount Nyid at its centre and Mount Nirka on its northern frontier with Darkon. They and their land were subsumed by Darkon as part of the Great Upheaval in 740 BC. The mountains rumbled back to life in 750 BC at the moment of the Requiem - the destruction of Il-Aluk, the decapitation of Darkon, and the 'birth' of Necropolis - whether in celebration or in sympathy. The peaks used to stand side by side, but they appear to have grown apart on the most recent map, with Mount Nyid anchoring the southeastern Mountains of Misery and Mount Nirka anchoring the northwestern Mountains of Misery. Mount Nirka soars to a breathtaking height of 7960 ft, easily surpassing Mount Baratak. It is the source of the Amnis Lacrimarum ("River of Tears"), which traverses Keening before joining the Corvus River well to the west. It is also the source of infamous Lake Temporus, from which springs the innocuous Tempe River. The northeastern foothills of Mount Nirka are described (wrongly it would appear) as the source of the Khourx River (unless they are also the source of the Foaming River).
All life on Mount Nirka, save for its northern flank, and indeed all life across the face of Arak was eradicated in 588 BC by a sandstorm without precedent that scoured the land clean in an event recorded as the Scourge of Arak. As of 735 BC, the only trees to be found on Mount Nirka were on its northern flank. At suitable elevations hardy grasses, spike plants, and low scrubs had made some inroad. The landscape remained a century and a half after the storm one of windswept desolation. As for fauna, it consisted of spiders and prodigious insects.
The best proof that the surface of Mount Nirka and its environs were inhabited by intelligent races are the mine tunnels and shafts that may still be found there. Dwarves in Tempe Falls and gnomes in Mayvin can also be found whose fathers left to work those mines over a century and a half ago. The individuals who returned to Darkon brought stories of strange temporal fugues in the depths. A miner might spend a week underground only to return to the surface and discover that a month had passed. From the dwarves and gnomes come also tales of the native inhabitants of Arak. The Arakians were humans who herded sheep and goats but were also themselves miners. They warned the dwarves and gnomes not to dig too deep. Equally, they tried to impress upon their guests from the north their abject fear of the hours of the night when the sneeuane feallagh ("gossamer folk") would swarm up from the kingdom of Niurin Scaa ("Shadow Nether") to devour the souls of mortal men. The dwarves began to believe in the existence of these beings whom they understood to be a race of Dark Elves. When the surface was scoured clean Niurin Scaa was untoched. But the surface dwellers with whom the sneeuane feallagh had entertained themselves were no more. Kin came to investigate however, as did looters and treasure seekers. Only those who tarried in the land for but a few hours were assured of ever leaving it. As the visitors became ever less common, the proportion who lived to tell the tale plummeted. Until it became universally accepted truth that anyone who dared spend the night within the frontiers of Arak would be carried off before dawn by the Dark Elves.
x
It was a rare individual indeed who understood that the appearance of the Shadow Rift in 740 BC, marked the demise of this truh.
Of course when the [[Shadow Rift] appear in 740 BC, it was a rare individual indeed who understood that
Stil
few indeed understood that this truth had just
Naturally, no one was told that
told the upholder of this truth that the Great Upheaval darked the destruction of Arak and the destruction
those who upheld this truth were not informed that as of the Great Upheaval That this was no longer true as of 740 BC was not readily appreciated.
Many people in surrounding lands remain convinced of this truth to this day.
B, despite the evidence to the contrary, for brigands and adventurers have discovered that one is no longer assured of being
After the Great Upheaval the knowledge
Consequently, Mount Nirka and its environs became shunned. This situation And after 740 it slowly dawned those and remained so until well after the end of Arak.
|
|
|
|
Ravenloft Third Edition - p116 | |
|
Realm of Terror - poster map |
